“I’m not a magician; I can’t make more with less.”

Teachers rally and show support

More than hundred teachers gathered at the Aylmer Academy on rue Principale on November 9 to show their displeasure with the new provincial offer during a large rally organized by the Western Quebec Teachers' Association (WQTA).

On November 6, Quebec’s treasury board proposed unions a new offer that saw the freeze lifted and the offer increase from 3% to 5.3% for the whole compensation package. The treasury board indicated that the new offer injects an extra $1.7 billion to the amounts already discussed, 550$ million of which is for wage relativity.

Richard Goldfinch, Quebec Provincial Association of Teachers (QPAT) President, lambasted the offer during the rally. “We need every single teacher to stand proud and to say to Mr. (Martin) Coiteux, (Quebec’s treasury board President) enough is enough. If any of you want to pull off a really neat magic trick, show him that you have nothing up your sleeves and then suggest that 0,0,1,1,1 is the same as 0,1,1,1,0! [Annual salary increase percentage] COME ON! We were not born yesterday, if there is anyone on this planet who believes there’s a difference between those two figures then I have a slightly used bridge in Brooklyn for sale at a really good price,” said Mr. Goldfinch to a cheering crowd.

Mr. Goldfinch was referencing George C. Parker, arguably one of the greatest con artists of all time who “sold” the Brooklyn Bridge on a few occasions and other public landmarks.

Even if Mr. Goldfinch dismissed the offer, there’s a dim light at the end of the dark tunnel. “For one year, we’ve been at the table 65 times now and nothing has really moved. Yes, their onerous demands have started to drop away. However, we went to them originally and we said “we need help!” Our system is stumbling because of the incessant cuts, we need help and what did they come back with? Class-size ratio increase, special needs coding removed, 35 instead of 32 hours in the building, what kind of help is that?!”

Negotiations will continue this month, but meantime teachers will continue their work-to-rule campaign. “We will need to do what we need to do,” said Mr. Goldfinch. “There’s nothing in the offer to get excited about, so we are back at it and we will keep at it. Our negotiators are back at the table this week and next week. Teachers never left the table.  There’s nothing new in the offer.”

Several strike days are scheduled for teachers and the Common Front representing 400,000 civil servants. This past September, the WQTA voted 96.7% in favour of the six day strike mandate proposed by the Common Front.

This movement regroups several unions from across Québec including the CSQ, who are working in close partnership with the Fédération des syndicats de l’enseignement (FSE) and the QPAT. WQTA is a local QPAT branch.